SYRACUSE, N.Y. — On a night when Indiana coach Tom Crean said he was “disgusted” and “disappointed,” freshman Noah Vonleh was about the only bright spot for the Hoosiers.

The 6-foot-10 Vonleh went for 17 points and 6 rebounds as Indiana lost to No. 4 Syracuse, 69-52, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at the Carrier Dome.

“The second half we just got away from what we were doing in the first half,” said Vonleh, who scored 13 points at the line.

Syracuse went on a 12-0 second-half run after Vonleh tied it at 33.With a number of new faces and key players emerging on a very young Hoosier team that is now 6-2, Crean could not come up with the perfect formula to get back into the game after halftime.

“I’m disgusted with the lack of leadership, and unbelievably disappointed with the lack of fight in the second half,” Crean said. “That was one of the poorest displays of fight and communication that I’ve ever seen.”

Indiana has yet to pick up a key victory this season with both losses coming to top-15 teams, UConn by 1 at Madison Square Garden, and now the Orange.

He is averaging a double-double of 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds and has five double-doubles in eight games. In a sixth game, he went for 18 points and 9 boards.

This was a learning experience for him, though, as he frequently became anonymous on the offensive end. He also struggled with foul trouble in the loss to UConn and was limited to 10 minutes in that game.

Projected as the No. 8 pick in this year’s NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, Vonleh may only end up staying in Bloomington until the end of the second semester.

Along with Yogi Ferrell, Troy Williams, Will Sheehey and Jeremy Hollowell, he hopes tomature and help Indiana become dangerous by March.

Humbled by a blowout loss on national television in December can only help in the long run as Crean’s job to motivate his team becomes easier now.

“I’m just appreciative of all my opportunities,” Vonleh said. “To be in this position now is a complete dream.”

About Adam Zagoria

Adam is a Basketball Insider for NBA.com and SNY.tv, where he covers basketball at all levels.

He is the author of two books, including "She's Got Handle," called "The 'Hoop Dreams' of the 21st Century" by The New York Times. His second book, "ULTIMATE: The First Four Decades," documents the colorful history of Ultimate Frisbee and was profiled in Sports Illustrated.

An award-winning journalist, his articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, SLAM, Basketball Times and newspapers nationwide.

A veteran Ultimate player, Adam has competed in numerous World & National Championships, and his teams won the Westchester Summer League titles in 2011 & 2013.

He has also attended more Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Rolling Stones shows than he cares to remember.

Adam lives in Manhattan with his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Grace and James.